Nathaniel Wyche, Sr age 82 passed away peacefully at home after an extended illness.  A Memorial service will be held later, to be determined after restrictions are lifted.

Preceded in death by wife, Frances; daughter Debra; granddaughter Keyonna; grandsons Marc Madison and Aaron Baker; parents, Collie, Sr and Nellie Wyche; brothers Collie, Jr (surv, Delores) Joseph (surv, Annette) Odell and Jerry.  Sisters: Delois, Lena and Ruby.

Survived by sister Elsie Gholson of Ettrick, VA; sisters in law, Annette, Virginia, and Delores, Chicago, Il.  Children: Ladonna Baker, Bernice Griffin and Pamela Kimp; Nathaniel, Jr (Vanessa) and Carlos Bernal, Sr (mother, Patricia).

Survived by wife, Mary Jo and her children, Amanda Quarles (Nakia Alexander), Amelia Jeune (Michaud), Adam Quarles: Alexander, Nadia, Rian, Gabrielle and Eric, and his children.

Grandchildren: Carlos, Jr; Michael Madison; Wilbert Wyche, Latisha Douglas; Charles and Crystal Jenkins; Curtis Baker; Latoya Hayes; Nathaniel, III and Natasha Wyche, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Nate was a proud member of Cement Finishers Local 165-692.

He shared many interesting stories of growing up on a tobacco plantation, enduring hard work at an early age.  He was born at 5am on a spring morning to 26yo Collie and 23yo Nellie, tenant farmers, in Louisburg, NC.  The land was owned by the Bartholomew Farms, a very large and successful plantation that spanned two states, growing tobacco and cotton.  I am sure Collie was proud to add another son to his growing family, which would end up being eight hard working and happy children that loved each other until the end of their lives.

Mrs. Florence Bartholomew was a favorite person that would employ young Nate to watch her son Dwight while she fished.  She carried a pistol in her apron to shoot snakes and had Nate to bait her hooks.  He always claimed that she loved him so much that she asked Nellie for permission to adopt him, which she firmly declined!

Perhaps that is what hurried the family's move to a Petersburg, VA farm, where they all learned farming and the curing of tobacco.  Nate rue the day he proudly showed his father that he could control the mule and plow the fields… he had just made 11 yr. and was going to be an ongoing job that he would do very proudly.  At age 13, he was driving the family car, fixing fences, fishing and hunting, and squeezing the hens for eggs to take to the store for candy money.  When his parents would go to town, it would be an extended leave, and he and Collie, Jr would take that opportunity to kill a chicken for each child and cook them to enjoy a feast.  His father would comment that he must have a fox killing chickens as he was losing too many!  The parents never caught on to their scheme…

By 14, his fate was set by the landowner that announced that Nate would have to work the farm full time and forego schooling.  He, following Collie, Jr, moved to town and worked construction at Fort Lee, and various jobs until they made their way to Chicago.  He recalled working at the Stockyard Inn during the Adlai Stevenson convention, making big tips and eating fine food while busing tables.  Finally, hired by Paschen Construction, working as a rigger on the State of Illinois Building, he and his brother gained a reputation for hard work, done right. They became cement finishers working on Navy Pier and all the large construction sites while raising young families.

Nate was particularly proud of meeting Helmut Jahn, the architect of the State of Illinois building, who was frequently on the jobsite, overseeing the construction efforts. Mr. Jahn and Nate were close in age.  He admired his success and "brains".

He moved his young family to Indiana and joined Local 165, from which he retired.

He was, indeed, a famous person in his own circles… while traveling, it was often I would hear someone holler ...". hey, Nate! ".. But it wasn't until we visited Kennebunkport Maine that I was shocked to hear that greeting. His ego was as big as a tobacco plantation.  He worked hard his whole life, never apologizing for how he lived; he took cursing to an Art Form and drank alcohol like he worked . . . hard.  He was proud of his friendships with all of his union brothers and Mr. Bob Heine, and the Whitham Family...most are now gone from us.

He was proud of his children whom he expected to work, as hard as he did through life, without complaints.  He wanted his sons and grandsons to follow him in the trades, …"as best as they could" …, because, as far as he was concerned, they could never match him.

You either accepted Nate as he was or left him alone.  He was his own Man... He fell asleep in the Lord and lives on in the hearts of those who loved him best...